We are a restaurant happily based on local, seasonal ingredients done in an elevated fashion and served by a knowledgable and friendly staff. We love what we do and want to welcome our guests in a way that makes everyone feel like they have come to a special place and are going to have a memorable experience.

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Our building was built in 1820 and retains a character that exists nowhere else. Tavern & Grocery was originally a grocery, tavern, and boarding house, and was the first African American business in Charlottesivlle, and was owned by free slaves. It was, throughout the years, a grocery on the main floor, a tavern, and a boarding house in the upstairs rooms, where the family also lived. The business was a grocery until 1973, hence the "grocery" in our name. We pay homage to this history with our upstairs "Booker Room" which was where Booker T. Washington stayed when he was a guest here. Check our private dining tab for more information on this!

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Our vision is to make our restaurant more than just  "farm to table," but rather "our farm to your table." In this, we grow many of our own vegetables on our farm just down the road in Keswick. We grow our salads, tomatoes, herbs, and as much else as we possibly can! We also have a large flock of hens who diligently lay our colorful eggs! And what we can't grow ourselves, we source from local farmers who bring us what is at peak season throughout the year. Our meats are from local organic farmers who care passionately about what they are doing and the environment we all share.

 

Ask your server, and they will be happy to discuss where our ingredients are sourced!